Venice High grad arrested after finding rifle on Turks and Caicos

Photo of rusty AK-47 rifle found in the Turks and Caicos islands last year by Kevin Bingham. Bingham was arrested after finding the weapon and spent days in jail before the case was thrown out. Shot by Bingham on his cellphone.

Published: Monday, May 13, 2013 at 7:14 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, May 13, 2013 at 7:14 p.m.

A pair of U.S. citizens — including a retired Sarasota surgeon — garnered considerable media attention when they were arrested in the Turks and Caicos islands last month, accused of carrying a single bullet each in their luggage.

But the doctor was not the first American — with a Southwest Florida tie — to be detained on weapons-related charges in the British protectorate, which has adopted a series of strict guns and ammunition laws.

Last Thanksgiving, Venice High School graduate Kevin Bingham was working in the islands as a dive captain when he fished an old, highly corroded AK-47 assault rifle out of a deep, salt water hole.

But instead of snagging a cool souvenir, Bingham found himself locked in jail for eight bleak days, denied bail and awaiting trial.

“I was freaking out at the time,” said Bingham, 25. “All the cops told me I wasn't getting out.”

Bingham's father, Jimmy, eventually convinced Huw Shepheard, then the islands' attorney general, to take a hard look at the case. Shepheard ultimately freed Bingham, declining to take the case to a judge for trial.

But the fate of the two Americans arrested within 24 hours of one another remains murky — even as a U.S. Senator steps up his demand to find out what happened, and how.

Realtor Cathy Davis of Dallas, 60, and Dr. Horace Norrell, 80, of Sarasota, were each arrested at Providenciales International Airport for allegedly trying to leave the country with a single bullet in their luggage.

Norrell and Davis, who did not know each other, each had to post $4,000 cash as bail and were ordered to return to an island court on June 7 to determine if the evidence against them is sufficient for them to stand trial. If convicted, each faces two to five years in prison.

Norrell has said he is buckling under the weight of the stress, and his lawyer reiterated those claims Monday.

Norrell, who was celebrating his 80th birthday with his wife on Turks and Caicos, spent three nights in jail there before seeing a Superior Court judge, who allowed him to post bail.

Since his return, Norrell has told the Herald-Tribune that is he is considering forfeiting his bail rather than returning to Turks and Caicos.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bill Nelson has continued to press for explanations regarding the incidents on the islands, where tourism accounts for roughly 80 percent of the gross domestic product.

Nelson, D-Fla., was scheduled to meet with Norrell and his attorney Monday in Tampa, but Norrell had to cancel because of stress-related illness.

In a news release issued Monday by Nelson's office, the senator stated he has received assurances from the U.S. Embassy staff in The Bahamas — the closest embassy to Turks and Caicos — that there were no similar cases in the Turks and Caicos in the recent past.

The Bingham case appears to run counter to that statement.

Nelson also said Monday he still wants more information on whether other Americans have been arrested at any Caribbean airport by local police who allegedly found bullets in their luggage.

Bingham, for his part, is not going back. He now works as a dive boat captain in Key West.

“They arrested me for possession of a firearm, and I said, ‘What? This thing is not a firearm. It is a piece of rust. It is never going to shoot again,' ” Bingham said. “And they said, ‘That's up to the firearms expert.' ”

<p>A pair of U.S. citizens — including a retired Sarasota surgeon — garnered considerable media attention when they were arrested in the Turks and Caicos islands last month, accused of carrying a single bullet each in their luggage. </p><p>But the doctor was not the first American — with a Southwest Florida tie — to be detained on weapons-related charges in the British protectorate, which has adopted a series of strict guns and ammunition laws.</p><p>Last Thanksgiving, Venice High School graduate Kevin Bingham was working in the islands as a dive captain when he fished an old, highly corroded AK-47 assault rifle out of a deep, salt water hole.</p><p>But instead of snagging a cool souvenir, Bingham found himself locked in jail for eight bleak days, denied bail and awaiting trial.</p><p>“I was freaking out at the time,” said Bingham, 25. “All the cops told me I wasn't getting out.”</p><p>Bingham's father, Jimmy, eventually convinced Huw Shepheard, then the islands' attorney general, to take a hard look at the case. Shepheard ultimately freed Bingham, declining to take the case to a judge for trial.</p><p>But the fate of the two Americans arrested within 24 hours of one another remains murky — even as a U.S. Senator steps up his demand to find out what happened, and how.</p><p>Realtor Cathy Davis of Dallas, 60, and Dr. Horace Norrell, 80, of Sarasota, were each arrested at Providenciales International Airport for allegedly trying to leave the country with a single bullet in their luggage.</p><p>Norrell and Davis, who did not know each other, each had to post $4,000 cash as bail and were ordered to return to an island court on June 7 to determine if the evidence against them is sufficient for them to stand trial. If convicted, each faces two to five years in prison.</p><p>Norrell has said he is buckling under the weight of the stress, and his lawyer reiterated those claims Monday.</p><p>“This matter is causing serious health issues for my client,” said William Partridge, Norrell's lawyer.</p><p>Norrell, who was celebrating his 80th birthday with his wife on Turks and Caicos, spent three nights in jail there before seeing a Superior Court judge, who allowed him to post bail.</p><p>Since his return, Norrell has told the Herald-Tribune that is he is considering forfeiting his bail rather than returning to Turks and Caicos. </p><p>Meanwhile, Sen. Bill Nelson has continued to press for explanations regarding the incidents on the islands, where tourism accounts for roughly 80 percent of the gross domestic product.</p><p>Nelson, D-Fla., was scheduled to meet with Norrell and his attorney Monday in Tampa, but Norrell had to cancel because of stress-related illness.</p><p>In a news release issued Monday by Nelson's office, the senator stated he has received assurances from the U.S. Embassy staff in The Bahamas — the closest embassy to Turks and Caicos — that there were no similar cases in the Turks and Caicos in the recent past.</p><p>The Bingham case appears to run counter to that statement.</p><p>Nelson also said Monday he still wants more information on whether other Americans have been arrested at any Caribbean airport by local police who allegedly found bullets in their luggage.</p><p>Bingham, for his part, is not going back. He now works as a dive boat captain in Key West.</p><p>“They arrested me for possession of a firearm, and I said, 'What? This thing is not a firearm. It is a piece of rust. It is never going to shoot again,' ” Bingham said. “And they said, 'That's up to the firearms expert.' ”</p>